I have clear plans to improve our living situation, as the current arrangement is not ideal for my family. Right now, we live in a two-room house, where I share a bedroom with my six girls, and the living room doubles as a sleeping space for my three growing boys. Each morning, we must move everything around to transform our living space, which is especially challenging now that my boys are older and uncomfortable sleeping on the floor. This is not only inconvenient but also unsafe, given the presence of snakes in our area. To address these issues, I plan to use part of my final transfer to build a proper house for my boys, providing them with their own safe space. Additionally, I intend to invest the rest of the funds in crop farming, which will help support our family in the long term and improve our living conditions even further.

GiveDirectly excels in promoting fairness and equality, as everyone receives the same amount, which helps prevent issues within the community. This approach minimizes the risk of theft and corruption, as funds are sent directly to recipients' phones. Additionally, the unconditional nature of the transfers allows individuals to plan according to their own needs and priorities. Personally, I have not identified any areas for improvement; my only wish is for GiveDirectly to maintain their current practices. Overall, I want to express my gratitude, as the support has improved my home and the lives of many others in the community.

Receiving my second transfer was a huge relief. My son, who is in college, had accumulated $870 in school fee arrears, and I knew I needed to address this issue first. I spent $300 from the transfer on his fees and added $150 from my savings, earned through charcoal production and crop farming. I plan to clear the remaining arrears with the profits I hope to generate from my crop farming. In addition to my son's fees, I spent $16 on exams for my five children in elementary school, as I believe education is crucial for their future. To further support my farming, I decided to invest in livestock by buying an additional goat for $60. Goats have been a reliable source of support over the years, as selling them has allowed me to meet various needs, including school fees and food expenses. Lastly, I allocated the remaining $64 for food, which had become a challenge after losing my maize crop to floods. I purchased maize and ensured a balanced diet for my family by buying other essentials like beans. Thank you, GiveDirectly.

I had just come back from church and was finally relaxing at home when I heard a message notification on my phone. Curiosity got the better of me, and I checked it immediately. To my surprise, it was the GiveDirectly transfers! I was overjoyed, feeling so much gratitude and immediately thanking God because I honestly didn’t expect the money to arrive so quickly. It felt like a blessing. The timing couldn’t have been better either—my daughter had been stuck at home for three weeks because I couldn’t afford her school fees. Now, I knew she would be back in school the very next day and my heart was light with relief.

I had been planning a fundraiser to help me pay for school fees, especially with two children in college and another in high school—it's been weighing me down. When my daughter was sent home for unpaid fees, I felt so helpless because I had nothing to give the school, and I knew the fundraiser might take a long time to organize. But thanks to the transfers from GiveDirectly, I was able to pay her fees right away, and she was back in school the next day. I’m so relieved and happy that she hasn’t been sent back home since.

When I received the unconditional cash transfer, the first thing I did was use $100 to pay my daughter's school fees. She is in Form 2 at Talai High School, and ensuring her education is my top priority. It felt good to know that I had covered this important expense, as it gave her a chance to continue with her studies without any interruptions. Next, I spent $10 to take my son to the hospital. I had taken him to the local dispensary three times, but he wasn't improving, so I decided it was time for further tests at a better facility in Marigat town. I’m so thankful that he’s doing much better now, and I feel relieved knowing his health is good. With the rest of the money, I addressed some household needs. I bought a new mattress for $35 since the floods destroyed our old one, and we had been sleeping on mats. I also purchased three plastic seats for $23, so we have proper places to sit now. The remaining amount went toward buying food items for the household. This cash transfer has truly helped me meet several pressing needs for my family.